Patna: As the NDA government braces for the impending trust vote in the Bihar Assembly scheduled for February 12, the focus within the BJP-JD (U) MLAs circles is on the crucial question of who will assume the role of the new Speaker during this critical session. With only seven days remaining, the NDA, comprising 115 members, is strategically planning to appoint an experienced Assembly Speaker.
With 78 MLAs, the BJP is currently deliberating on potential candidates for the Speaker’s position. Among the top contenders is Patna Sahib MLA Nand Kishore Yadav, a seasoned politician who has served as the state president of BJP, held ministerial roles in various departments, and made a mark as the Leader of Opposition.
The second name in contention is Darbhanga MLA Sanjay Saraogi, recognized for his assertive demeanor and two-decade-long consistent electoral victories. Saraogi hails from the Vaishya class, a crucial voter base for the BJP. Former Deputy CM Renu Devi, representing an extremely backward class, is also vying for the Vice President position, having previously served as a minister in multiple departments.
The BJP is contemplating strategic choices considering caste dynamics, with an eye on the upcoming elections. Taraiya MLA Janak Singh, a Kshatriya handling parliamentary matters as a whip in the Assembly, and Jhanjharpur MLA Nitish Mishra, son of former Chief Minister Dr. Jagannath Mishra, are potential candidates. Nitish Mishra, who joined BJP from JDU, boasts ministerial experience and inherits knowledge of parliamentary traditions, though he is from the old BJP quota.
As the government positions itself for the trust vote, the resignation of Assembly member Awadh Bihari Chaudhary is a pivotal consideration. Should he not resign, a historic no-confidence motion would be brought on February 12, marking the first instance in the Assembly’s history, leading to the removal of Chaudhary and the subsequent election of a new Assembly Speaker.
